John Hope Bryant

From the Video Archives: John Hope Bryant Speaks at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Men's Day, 2009

Ebenezer Baptist Church Men's Day from operationhopedotorg on Vimeo.

 

 

A Personal Letter from Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman, and CEO John Hope Bryant and Ambassador Andrew Young

Operation HOPE is "the private banker to the working poor, the underclass, and the struggling middle-class," and the impact of our work can be felt on-the-ground, everywhere we operate.  Our mission is 'silver rights,' or making free enterprise and capitalism work for all.  Financial literacy is the tool, financial dignity is the goal and financial inclusion is the way. 

2012 marked new heights for HOPE's silver rights movement as it continued to reach out and empower underserved populations in new and innovative ways. HOPE divisions currently serving the community include:

 

• Banking on Our Future, focused on keeping the most at-risk youth from repeating the cycles of poverty and despair that has trapped so many in their families and communities by teaching them basic financial literacy, or what we call "the global language of money." 

 

• HOPE Business-In-A-Box/Gallup-HOPE Index, focused on inspiring a generation of young people to become future American assets of economic energy, small business and entrepreneurship.

 

• HOPE Financial Dignity Centers, including our newest HOPE Financial Dignity Center at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr''s Ebenezer Church in Atlanta, Georgia, are where we approve clients day one, subject to the resolution of their primary denial factors, and raise credit scores on average 120 points over 18 months of active counseling. We call it the 700 Credit Scores Communities Initiative.  The HOPE Center at Ebenezer marks our 11th HOPE Center across the nation, and is the proud anchor for the new Martin Luther King. Sr. Community Resource Complex next to Ebenezer Church.  Most people know that Daddy King, as he was lovingly called, co-pastored Ebenezer Church with his son, Dr. King, but what they don't know is that Daddy King served on the board of a bank for 40 years.  Even more than 50 years ago, the King legacy was alive with civil rights, and silver rights empowerment, too. A special thank you to our HOPE Center signature partners, including Bank of the West and Union Bank on the west coast, E*TRADE FINANCIAL in New York City and Washington, DC, and at Ebenezer in Atlanta, FINANCIAL SERVICES ROUNDTABLE members SunTrust Bank, State Farm Insurance, LPL Financial/NestWise, Wells Fargo Bank,MasterCard, and BMO Harris Bank, along with supporting partners including the Coca-Cola Company,Kaplan University, Equifax, the United Way of Greater Atlanta, amongst others.

 

• HOPE Coalition America, which is the national partner with FEMA around emergency financial disaster preparedness, response and recovery, or the "economic Red Cross" for the nation.  HCA responded to, and served, more than 200,000 survivors following Hurricane Katrina, and we are responding to Hurricane Sandy now. 

 

• HOPE Government Relations & Public Policy, and HOPE Forums, which both advance responsible public policy and help to shape, engaged public opinion.  The recent HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summitfeaturing U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, with more than 1,500 delegates from 30 countries, covered by 50 major media outlets, is but one example of our focus here.

Read the complete personal letter on the HOPE Blog here.

A Salute to a Special Man: Steve Bartlett

It is with great honor and personal privilege that I take a moment to salute one of my personal heroes in life. Mr. Steve Bartlett.

Steve is the former mayor of Dallas, Texas, the former US Congressman (two terms) from Texas, and most recently, the CEO of the prestigious FINANCIAL SERVICES ROUNDTABLE, based in Washington, DC.

Steve is best known for his fierce, professional, sophisticated and effective representation of the 100 largest financial companies in America, in Washington, DC and respect to their public policy positions, amongst policy makers.  I know a different Steve Bartlett. 

The man I know, on a more personal level, happens to be very spiritual and a believer, a committed social advocate, even donating his time on mission work in Africa when not working in Washington, DC.  I know a man who would hang up one minute from a US congressman, and pick up the phone in the next, speaking with me about silver rights, and grassroots community change.

The man I know supported an effort for the FINANCIAL SERVICES ROUNDTABLE to raise $5 million to support our new HOPE Financial Dignity Center Atlanta, at Ebenezer Church (Dr. King's church, now pastored by friend Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock), and then led that said effort himself, raising $4 million of the $5 million needed with personal phone calls.*

Join the Operation HOPE Family for the Holidays at the new HOPE Financial Dignity Center Atlanta, at Ebenezer

Atlanta Journal Constitution: ‘Silver Rights’ for the underserved

Moderated by Rick Badie

Too many of us would either flunk or barely pass a grading of our personal financial literacy. Many of Atlanta’s business leaders are aware of the problem and support various efforts to strengthen the region’s consumer literacy rates and put folks in control of their money and lives. Today, SunTrust CEO Jenner Wood writes about the commitment by leaders across Georgia to educate consumers. I highlight the HOPE Financial Dignity Center located at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.

A mission for ‘Silver Rights’

By Rick Badie

On Nov. 14, hundreds of people gathered at the Operation HOPE Financial Dignity Center to celebrate the opening of the Atlanta complex. The nonprofit’s work to advance financial literacy and economic empowerment, though, had begun long before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. More than 1,200 people had already participated in workshops and services at various locales.

The center’s location — the anchor tenant of the Martin Luther King Sr. Community Resources Complex, next to Ebenezer Baptist Church — holds significance for James “Jay” Bailey, CEO of Operation HOPE in Atlanta.

“HOPE is more than humbled by the opportunity to continue the work that (Martin Luther King Jr.) started with the Poor People’s Campaign,” he said via e-mail. “I can think of no better place than on the hallowed ground of the King Center campus, in the shadow of Ebenezer Baptist Church and across the street from Dr. King’s final resting place, to carry out our mission of ‘Silver Rights.’”

Operation Hope was founded shortly after the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Its mission: To serve poor and underserved communities, provide better access to financial services, teach people how to manage money, make wise choices and tap into the free market system. The California-based nonprofit operates in South Africa, Haiti and dozens of U.S. cities that include Atlanta, according to its website, www.operationhope.org.

The HOPE Financial Dignity Center at Ebenezer offers two personal finance programs. A credit and money management workshop teaches participants how to plan and structure a budget. It also addresses credit — how to leverage it. The second personal finance program, “700 Credit Score Communities,” is an ongoing workshop that deals with additional elements of personal finance, but in group settings.

“When you transform a neighborhood to become a 700-credit score community, title lenders, payday lenders and rent-to-own stores become credit unions and community banks,” said John Hope Bryant, founder and HOPE CEO. “And liquor stores are transformed into convenient stores and grocery markets.”

Read the complete article here in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

 

 

 

HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit, 2012, Featuring Dr. Bernice King

 

Dr. Bernice A. King provides keynote remarks at the closing session of the HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit on November 15, 2012, with an introduction by HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant.  She is brilliant.

 

 

 

Open Letter from the Founder: HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit, 2012

Dear Friends of HOPE,

As we conclude the year of our 20th anniversary, I’m honored to share with you some recent highlights for the organization.

The HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit on November 14-15, 2012, in the city of Atlanta was a resounding success. The insights, passion and active engagement of the more than 1,500 delegates, 100 speakers and coverage from over 50 media outlets worldwide over the 2-day summit, truly made it a historic event.

The Summit, themed Community, Character and (Responsible) Capitalism included the substantive participation of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, civil rights icon Ambassador Andrew Young, Steve Bartlett, Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Services Roundtable (1999-2012), Bill Rogers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SunTrust Banks, Inc., Michael Arougheti, President of Ares Capital Management, Don Graves, Executive Director of the U.S. President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness at the White House, Gallup Chairman and CEO, Jim Clifton, Dr. Bernice A. King and Hip Hop Mogul Russell Simmons. On November 14th we celebrated the grand opening of the HOPE Financial Dignity Center, Atlanta at Ebenezer and hosted the Global Dignity Forum, which featured HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Professor Pekka Himanen of Finland, Dr. Bernice A. King, Benjamin Jealous, President and CEO of the NAACP and civil rights legend CT Vivian.

I recently co-authored a special Op-Ed on the future of housing finance with Robert Gnaizda for the American Banker entitled “How to End the Homeownership Crisis”.  Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's remarks from our 2012 Global Financial Dignity Summit on November 15th, we believe, aligns well with many of the values articulated by Mr. Gnaizda and myself.  

Lastly, as you know, Operation HOPE is dedicated to the financial preparedness, dignity and inclusion of all Americans.  Right now hundreds of thousands of our families, friends and neighbors’ lives have been devastated by Hurricane Sandy.  Once again, through HOPE’s emergency financial and economic preparedness, response and recovery disaster division - HOPE Coalition America (HCA) - the only financial emergency preparedness and recovery service in the country and proud national partner with FEMA, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Citizen Corps, is responding by offering help to individuals and small businesses whose lives have been turned upside-down. 

If you know someone that needs our services, please visit our website  www.operationhope.org  to locate an office or service offering near them.

We look forward to 2013, and thank you again for all that you do. 

Lets go…

With HOPE,

 

John Hope Bryant

 

 

From the International Business Times: Fed Chair Bernanke, Ambassador Andrew Young, Russell Simmons, Global Leaders Join Operation HOPE for Historic Summit in Atlanta

Two-Day Financial Dignity Summit Focused on Community, Character and Responsible Capitalism

ATLANTA, Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Leaders from around the globe gathered inAtlanta last week for Operation HOPE's Global Financial Dignity Summit to discuss financial dignity and literacy issues and find solutions for the economic problems faced by underserved communities around the world. The Summit, which was held November 14-15, included a community bus tour, the grand opening of HOPE Financial Dignity Center at Ebenezer, and a Global Dignity Forum.  

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121119/DC16216)

The Summit's theme of Community, Character and Responsible Capitalism offered a variety of programming suited for seeking a better understanding of financial literacy and dignity solutions. The first day of the Summit, Nov. 14, began with a community bus tour showcasing Atlanta's economic transformation. Atlanta's business, government, and faith leaders were joined by Summit participants as they traveled through diverse neighborhoods. Areas of opportunity in the city were highlighted for their potential economic growth.

Read the complete article here.

 

From Bloomberg Businessweek: Bernanke Says Fed to Do What It Can to Aid Housing, at HOPE Global Summit

 

 

Watch the full length video that ran live on Bloomberg Businessweek surrounding U.S.Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's speech at the HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit here.

Nov. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke speaks about the U.S. housing market, economy and central bank monetary policy. Bernanke, speaking in Atlanta, says the Fed will use its policy tools to speed economic growth and a recovery in housing. (Source: Bloomberg)

Soon you will be able to view all videos at the HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit website here.

Comcast Sponsors Public Service Announcements for HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit, 2012